Oh, Scrappy. I'm so sorry about the cause of the heart attack. All kinds of vibes that she hangs in there, though.

Thanks for updating us on your niece, Scrappy. I am hoping for the best for her.

Can anyone explain to me why the water supply is a public utility and the electric and gas lines are private companies, even though they essentially have a regional monopoly? I mean, I can't choose which provider to use for my electricity, and they maintain the lines. Which, okay, but why aren't they a public utility and water is?

Also, can anyone explain why Verizon is a company that provides internet service and yet had the most poorly designed corporate web site I have ever had to use regularly?

Scrappy, I am so sorry about your neic... thank you for keeping us updated and {{{scrappy and family}}}

Yes Scrappy. Glad to hear about the stability, but sorry to here the cause of the problem in the first place. Here's hoping it was a major isolated slip instead of part of longer-term step backwards.

This guy being a dick has nothing to do with the economics of the credit crunch.

I wish I understood this better. It's freaking me out, and I have no idea what it all is, and how it rights itself. Every time I try and figure it out, my eyes glaze over from financial jargon.

This guy being a dick has nothing to do with the economics of the credit crunch.

It sounds like he was fined for being a dick during his deposition, not because they blame him for the credit crunch.

Can anyone explain to me why the water supply is a public utility and the electric and gas lines are private companies, even though they essentially have a regional monopoly? I mean, I can't choose which provider to use for my electricity, and they maintain the lines. Which, okay, but why aren't they a public utility and water is?

Probably the work of the same logic wizards who have the trains in this country be a public entity while the tracks are privately owned.

bon bon, I'll agree you have a point but think "rubbish" is a bit strong. It isn't so much that the guy was a dick (though if anything, that's a mild way of putting it). It's that he seemed to consider himself above the rules -- a relative of "the old rules no longer apply" attitude that governed during the boom times.

And based on what was said in the Legal Intelligence article, I have to admire opposing counsel for keeping cool in such a trying situation.

I do think being a dick might have been connected to him being a CEO. You don't generally get that kind of job by being a nice guy (I know there are exceptions).

Allyson, check this out: brenda m "Natter 57 Varieties" Mar 20, 2008 6:17:52 am PDT